Sight-prime and drainage indicator for gasoline pumps



May 28, 1929.

A; E. DAVENPORT SIGHT PRIME- AND DRAINAGE INDICATOR FOR GASOLINE PUMPS Filed Sept. 2'7, 1928 Fl. E. DCJVENFIDRT,

Patented May 28, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ARTHURAE..DAVENPORT, OF MAYWOOD, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOE-TO OIL PRODUCTS APFLI- ANCE CO., OF MAYWOOD, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

SIGHT-PRIME-AND DRAINAGE INDICATOR FOR GASOLINE PUMPS.

Application led September 27, 1928.

Most States have laws regulating the operating conditions of lillin'g stations. For eX- ample, Ohio requires a device to show that the pump' is primed and that the products have not leaked back past the foot-valve, and Massachusetts requires some indication that the hose is draining.

ll'ence, objects of my invention are to prop oline from the regulation inlet pipe, a positive gas level and provision whereby vacuum lneaking is utilized to cause a stream of bubbles to rise in the gauge, to show the customer that gasoline is flowing. until the hose is actually drained.

The annexed` drawing is a view principally in section et' a device constructed in accordance with my invention.

Referring thereto, 5 is an element, which may be a casting, having fluidways 6 and 7 whereof the former receives the usual gas inlet connection S and whereof the' fluidway 7 receives the usual hose connection. The top ol' element 5 is of generally flat dise form pierced with openings coextensive with said respective tlnidways and having an upstanding marginal rim or flange 9. In short, it is formed to constitute the lower head of a sight tube or glass cylinder 10wl1ieh is completed by an upper head 11, the assemblage being rigidly secured as a unit by a central tic rod l2. v

.l tube 13 coextensive with the'luidway 7 rises to the normal gas level about midway ot' the cylinder which is etched, as at 14. or formed with some other appropriate symbol to indicate the. normal level, that is to say the level at which the gasoline should be found before and after pumping operation.

The upper head is formed with a valve-Way 15 to accommodate a dise valve 16 having a Serial No. 308,856.

seat 17 and accessible upon removal ot' a nut 18. A conduit 19 connects the space below the valve with an air chamber 2O ported to atmosphere through a cover 21. And air passing the valve is conducted via passage 2:2 to a tube 23 extending to near the bott-om of the sight glass and from which it escapes upwardly through the gasoline in the form of bubbles.

Evidently when the pump is operatingthe valve 16 will be held to its seat and no bubbling will ensue. When, however, the pumping operation is completed the vacuum breaking function is inaugurated by the lifting ot' the valve and the resultant suction of air into the cylinder; that is to say, as soon as the hose starts to drain a stream ot' air bubbles will be emitted by the tube 23, and they will' eontlnue to rise to the surface of the gasoline in thesight glass until. the hose is completely drained.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. A gasoline pump delivery unit-` including a sight glass, inlet and outlet elements. rc.- spectively, leading to and from said sight glass, means within the glass for indicating normal liquid level, and means for admitting air to the sight glass above said level thereby to permit liquid flow, saidv air admission means providing for passage of air in bubble form upwardly through the visible liquid to indicate liquid flow.

2. A gasoline pump delivery unit, including a sight glass, a liquid inlet and a liquid outlet, a pipe rising in the sight glass and closing the inlet against the delivery thereby to maintain a normal level et' liquid. means on the sight glass visibly to indicatel normal liquid-level, means to admit air to the sightI glass above the liquid level to permit liquid flow, and means whereby the air is caused to rise through the body of liquid in the sight l glass, thereby to provide by its bubble characteristic an indication visible through the sight glass of liquid flow.

In testimony whereof I atlix my signature.

ARTHUR E. DAVENPORT. 

